Chelios, Niedermayer among hockey hall’s Class of 2013

TORONTO — Bill Hay, chairman/CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Jim Gregory and Pat Quinn, co-chairmen of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s selection committee, announced today that Chris Chelios, Geraldine Heaney, Scott Niedermayer and Brendan Shanahan have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the player category.

In addition, Fred Shero was elected in the builder category. The vote took place today at the annual meeting of the selection committee in Toronto.

“The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these five hockey legends as honored members,” Gregory said. “Their contributions to the game of hockey are well-documented, and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved.”

Chris Chelios, a native of Chicago, after two successful seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers (1981-83), joined the Montreal Canadiens and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 1984-85 and was also runner-up as Rookie of the Year to Mario Lemieux. He was part of the 1986 Canadiens’ Stanley Cup winning team and won the James Norris Trophy as Defenceman of the Year in 1988-89. Traded to Chicago in 1990, Chris went on to play nine season with the Blackhawks and was a five time first or second team All-Star and two-time Norris winner. Chelios continued his career in 1999 with the Detroit Red Wings, winning Stanley Cups in 2002 and 2008. He finished his 26 year playing career at the age of 48 with the Atlanta Thrashers and Chicago Wolves in 2009-10.

“It’s a great honor to be selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Chelios. “To have such a long career in the game has been fantastic for me, and being named to the Hall is a huge recognition for what I was able to accomplish.”

Gerladine Heaney was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up playing hockey in Toronto Aeros – an association she would remain with for 18 seasons. As a member of Canada’s national team she won seven IIHF World Championship gold medals and was named the IIHF World Women’s Championship’s Best Defenceman in 1992 and 1994. A member of Canada’s 2002 gold medal Olympic team, Heaney also won silver in 1998.

“This continues the big step that women’s hockey is taking and the pioneering of Angela James and Cammi Granato,” said Heaney. “I am very proud to join them in helping to grow out game.

Scott Niedermayer grew up in Cranbrook, British Columbia, and was a member of the Kamloops Blazers 1992 Memorial Cup championship team. Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 1st round (3rd overall selection), he went on to play 13 seasons with the Devils from 1991 to 2004, winning Stanley Cups in the 1995, 2000 and 2003 seasons. In 2005, he signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks where he was a two-time first team All-Star during his six seasons, as well as being a key part of their 2007 Stanley Cup winning team. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP that season. On the international front, Scott also won gold at the World Junior Championship in 1991, gold at the World Championship in 2004, and gold at two Olympic Games in 2002 and 2010.

“My goal was always just to make the National Hockey League,” said Niedermayer. “Joining people in the Hall of Fame that I’ve always looked up to is a tremendous thrill.”

Brendan Shanahan was born in Etobicoke, Ontario, and after two seasons with the London Knights (OHL) was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 1st round (2nd overall) in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. A member of the New Jersey Devils for four seasons, Brendan was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Blues in 1991. He player four seasons with the Blues and had back to back 50 goal seasons in 1992-93 and 1993-94 – being named a 1st team NHL All-Star in 1993-94. Brendan went on to play two seasons in Hartford before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1996, where he played nine seasons winning the Stanley Cup on three occasions (1997, 1998 and 2002). Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New York Rangers, he played two more seasons before retiring in 2008. Representing Canada internationally on numerous occasions, he was a member of Canada’s 2002 gold medal winning team.

“I’ve always been fortunate to have great teammates and coaches throughout my career,” said Shanahan. “At every level I have tried to learn and my key to success was having people around me that helped me improve my game.”

In the Builder Category, Fred Shero was elected. Shero began his coaching career in 1959-60 with the St. Paul Saints, and progressed up the ranks with a career culminating in nine seasons in the National Hockey League. His Philadelphia Flyers won Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 and he also took the New York Rangers to the final in 1979, where he also had the role of General Manager. In 734 NHL regular season games coached, his teams had 390 wins, 225 losses and 119 ties. Shero passed away Nov. 24, 1990.

The 2013 Induction Celebration will be held on Monday, November 11th at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. For more information regarding the 2013 Induction Weekend/Celebration, visit http://www.hhof.com.

Established in 1943, the Hockey Hall of Fame’s (“HHOF”) mandate is to recognize and honor the achievements of players, builders and officials who bring special distinction to the game of hockey, and to collect, preserve, research and exhibit objects, images and resource materials connected with the game as it is played in Canada and throughout the world. As a non-profit corporation and a registered charity under the Income Tax Act, HHOF owns and operates a museum and place of entertainment offering state-of-the-art exhibits, multimedia presentations and educational programming from its premises at Brookfield Place, Toronto, Canada.